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Police have been investigating stores that sell synthetic marijuana. Anonymous calls and tips led them to the stores after an increase in the number of people suffering symptoms after smoking or ingesting the synthetic substances, police said.

Search warrants were served at six stores in Des Moines and two other locations were also searched, police said.

Police said the search warrants were executed at the Shop N Save stores at 2127 Martin Luther King Blvd., 1829 Sixth Ave. and 4685 Northwest Second Ave. as well as the Nat Food Mart at 3804 Hubbell Ave. and 1443 Second Ave. and the University Grocery at 2121 University Ave.

The stores can continue to operate, but they all closed after police suspended their liquor licenses.

With bright, colorful packaging and names such as Mr. Nice Guy, the drugs were targeting teens in a deceptive manner, police said. One label boasted its ingredients are 100 percent legal.

"They're stored under the counter. They're not out in front. They're sold with smoking papers and pipes. They're being sold to get kids high," Maj. Steve Waymire said.

A narcotics unit executed several simultaneous search warrants and arrested multiple people in association with the ongoing investigation, police said.

Charles Dock, a regular at University Grocery, said he's never seen any questionable products behind the counter.

"No, no, no," Dock said. “I was a regular customer at all their stores."

Dock said he's relieved some of these harmful substances are off the streets.

Police logged 53 cases locally since July in which medical response was needed following the use of synthetic marijuana.

According to one police report, one woman died immediately after lighting up.

"Folks are having adverse reactions to this, this synthetic marijuana to the point where they require medical attention," Sgt. Jason Halifax said.